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“Any connection to Professor Whitley and his research is relevant,” he said, his tone measured despite the elemental magic still humming through his blood.He suppressed a grimace at the familiar tingle of ice in his fingertips and retracted his powers.

The shadow creatures had unsettled him more than he cared to admit.They reminded him of the terror he’d felt for Viggo’s safety when they’d confronted Renwick.The thought of his absent lover caused a pang in his chest that had nothing to do with the recent exertion of magic.

He needed to talk to Viggo.And the sooner the better.

Cecillia broke the fraught silence.

“Headmaster,” she faltered and bit her lip, her pleading gaze on Rigley.“Uncle, I think we should tell them the truth.”

For a moment, Evander thought the headmaster would not budge.Rigley finally nodded.

“Perhaps we should relocate for this discussion?”Leon suggested smoothly.The Frenchman looked remarkably unruffled as he retrieved his coat and shrugged into it.

Only Evander could tell he was tense from the faint lines around his mouth.

“My office would be more appropriate,” Rigley said reluctantly.“And private.”

“We should have Fitch guard the laboratory while Bartley fetches more officers,” Evander told Shaw and Rufus briskly.“We need someone to watch the premises until we finish our investigation.”

Rigley watched as the forensic mage nodded and disappeared, his expression indicating he was uncomfortable with this arrangement.They waited until Shaw returned with Fitch before following the headmaster.

Leon fell into step beside Evander as they made their way through the corridors of the Institute.

“That was impressive work, mon cher,” he murmured, his voice pitched for Evander’s ears alone.His fingers brushed Evander’s knuckles.“We always did work well together.”

Evander carefully shifted away from his touch, an unwelcome warmth rising in his cheeks.“What are you doing?”he said under his breath.

Leon’s eyes crinkled at the corners, an arresting smile curving his mouth that would have made Evander’s heart skip a beat in the past.“Trying to win you over, of course.”

Evander lowered his brows.“You can shelve that notion right now.I have a lover.One I am wholeheartedly committed to.”

Surprise widened Leon’s eyes.

Luckily for Evander, Shaw intervened before the Frenchman could question him.

“Your Grace, I found something in the quadrangle.”She produced a small cloth bundle from her pocket and carefully unfolded it to reveal several shards of clear glass.“I believe these may be fragments of a vial.”

Evander frowned.A trace of purple coated the lining of the glass.

“Is thatNoctis Bloom?”

“It’s hard to tell,” Shaw replied reluctantly.“It doesn’t have any noticeable scent.”

“Have Brown examine it.”

Shaw nodded and put away the evidence.

Rigley’s office on the uppermost floor of the Institute befitted the headmaster of the prestigious establishment.Dark oak panelling covered the walls and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined with ancient tomes gave the room a solemn, scholarly air.A large desk dominated the space beneath the tall windows overlooking the Institute grounds.

Evander fixed the headmaster with a penetrating stare once they were all seated, Rigley in his chair and Cecillia to his right.

“Now, I believe we’re owed that explanation.”

Rigley passed a hand over his face, suddenly looking every one of his sixty-odd years.“Cecillia is my late sister’s daughter.When her parents died in the cholera outbreak fifteen years ago, I took her in and raised her.It didn’t take long for me to realise she was a talented mage.”He shot a kind glance at his niece.

“And her appointment to the faculty?”Rufus asked pointedly.

“Was based entirely on merit,” Rigley insisted, his voice hardening.“Cecillia graduated top of her class and has published more scholarly works on hydromancy than anyone her age in the Institute’s history.”